The Fantasy Football Preview Week 4

The bye weeks are upon us, and we all know that means trouble for our fantasy team decisions. With our Packers and Panthers unavailable for selection this week, we cast an eye over some alternatives with the potential to bring you victory this week. These byes combine with the mounting difficulties for owners of stars like C.J Spiller to create selection nightmares. Don’t panic, here are this week’s fantasy tips.

Starts of the week:

QB

Tony Romo: Leave the man alone! He may have his problems under pressure in real football, but in fantasyland Romo is not to be overlooked. Following a recent resurgence in form, Romo has the potential for a huge game this weekend when he heads to San Diego. They’ve given up the most points to QBs of any defence in the league, and have already been torched by Mike Vick, Matt Schaub and Jake Locker this year. Time to shine Tony…

RB

Maurice Jones-Drew: After his first taste of a decent fantasy week last week against a tough Seattle defence, it looks like Jones-Drew might (might) be looking at fantasy relevance once again. Maybe carrying the Jags’ offence for the past few years has broken Pocket Hercules, but maybe he’ll come up big against the Colts this Sunday. This week I see Jones-Drew as the big risk you have to take.

WR

Torrey Smith: Joe Flacco’s number one guy has been consistent so far, but he hasn’t really broken out yet. If he’s going to break out, then surely it will be on Sunday when he faces a struggling Buffalo pass defence. He’s a low-risk option this week, and he’s guaranteed to see targets. Start him.

TE

Julius Thomas: This guy has been a huge performer and he’s not finished yet. You cannot bench him this week, and that goes for every week that he’s catching passes from Peyton Manning. As if you needed any more reasons to start him, he faces an Eagles defence which has given up plenty of points to fantasy tight ends already this season.

Sleeper Picks:

Alex Smith: He’s not a touchdown machine, but he does get the job done. His apparent immunity to interceptions makes him an excellent option to slide into your line-up. If you’re without Cam or A-Rod this week, Smith’s your man. Facing the wounded Giants, how could you resist?

Le’Veon Bell: London’s calling, is Le’Veon Bell the man to answer? It’s too hard to tell how, or even if Bell will play this week, but having been touted as the darling of the Steelers’ backfield (doesn’t mean an awful lot) going into the season, he could re-ignite this troubled team. Consider him a huge risk, but if he’s starting, you can use him.

Denarius Moore: Yes he’s a Raider, but I actually think he’s a really nice play this week against a Washington defence that has just been handing points to receivers of late. Pryor has brought new life to this franchise, and to Denarius Moore’s fantasy stock.

Antonio Gates: It’s strange that the once invincible fantasy tight end, Antonio Gates, has fallen to sleeper status. Despite his fall from grace in recent years, he has shown some signs of a return to form in recent times. Add to this the fact that he’s playing Dallas, one of the NFL’s weaker pass defences, this week could mean big numbers for Gates.